Nanakusa-gayu. Interesting japanese food in New Year. 簡単！七草粥キットで無病息災！！

Hi!
On the 7th of January, Japanese people would eat Nana-kusa gayu (七草粥), that is, the rice porridge including seven ingredients (vegetables and wild plants in my recipe). This custom spread and fixed in Edo period.

People eat it and pray for state of perfect health over the year.

They are 
Seri, Nazuna, Gogyo, Hakobera, Hotoke-no-za, Suzuna and Suzusiro.
⚠ The different period and place have resulted in variation of the ingredients. 
What I introduce is just an example. 

<< Nana-kusa >>

Seri (セリ　Oenanthe javanica)

Seri has an unique smell (refreshing feeling).

Nazuna (ナズナ　Capsella bursa-pastoris)

Gogyo (ゴギョウ　Gnaphalium affine)

Hakobera (ハコベラ　Stellaria media)

In fact Hakobera (or Hakobe) means the plants which belong to Stellaria. 

Now it should be called コハコベ (Ko-hakobe) in Japan.

Hotoke-no-za (ホトケノザ　Lapsana apogonoides)

ホトケノザ is another name of コオニタビラコ (Ko-oni-tabirako). 

Suzuna (スズナ　Brassica rapa L.) &

Suzushiro (スズシロ　Raphanus sativus L.)

Suzuna is called a turnip in English. Suzushiro is Japanese radish.

In the past all they were very familiar to Japanese people. The children used to learn the names by heart.
But, these days many people have lost the opportunity to learn which is which, and cannot identify. Of course, neither can I. I guess one reason is decrease of farms and fields, their important habitat.

But don't worry!! Now Nana-kusa are sold at supermarkets!! 😆

Various kinds of instant Nanakusa-gayu

If you want to enjoy this custom more easily, you can buy freeze-dried Nana-kusa, already cut small. So all you have to do is preparing rice porridge and mixing them.

Freeze-dried Nana-kusa (convenience food)

I found more convenient one. This includes not only Nana-kusa but also rice porridge!!  Wow...Fantastic...😂 It is suitable for busy morning!

Boil-in-the-bag rice porridge and freeze-dried Nana-kusa

Packaged Nana-kusa

Hey! Why the amount of Hakobera  is so different from that of the others!?😂

Because of various matters I could not make it before dinner. I will try tomorrow morning!
I'm sorry not to show the photo of just made Nanakusa-gayu😓

(updated 2019/01/09)

I made Nanakusa-gayu!

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⚠Please don't use photos and pictures on my blog without permission !!!

Thank you for your reading !!!